Program Description

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that provides health coverage to more than 160 million through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. CMS works in partnership with the entire health care community to improve quality, equity and outcomes in the health care system. This program will discuss an overview of Medicare and the expansions to Medicare under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The new drug law makes improvements to Medicare that will expand benefits, lower drug costs, keep prescription drug premiums stable, and improve the strength of the Medicare program. The law also extends enhanced financial help to purchase HealthCare.gov and state-based Marketplace plans and expands access to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended vaccines for adults with Medicaid coverage. This program will also discuss recent CMS programmatic updates related to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

About the Speaker

Cristina Collazo serves as an Outreach Specialist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Program Operations and Local Engagement. Cristina educates consumers, providers and other partners about CMS programs and initiatives. Cristina has also worked in a variety of public and private sector employment in the areas of civil litigation, labor law and health law. Cristina is a member of the California bar and holds a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.